Responding to the query, Mehta initially said, "in all likelihood, they would not have Aadhaar".

To this, the bench asked whether such homeless people who do not have Aadhaar "do not exist for the Union of India or the Uttar Pradesh government" and will they not be accommodated in shelter homes.

Mehta clarified that it was not correct to say that those who do not have Aadhaar do not exist, as they have other identification cards like voter IDs which contain their address.

"We are dealing with a human problem. Permanent address can be given for it (Aadhaar). They (urban homeless) remain a floating population," Mehta told the bench, adding that the state was alive to the situation and trying its best to ensure that all such persons are accommodated in shelter homes.

However, the court said as per the government, over 90 crore people in the country have been given Aadhaar.